Inquests

pummice

While doing family research, I came across a few people who died tragically in the 1920s/1930s in Ireland. The inquests were held either on the same day as the death or the following day. In whose interests were the inquests held so quickly?

KildareFan

pummice wrote: »

While doing family research, I came across a few people who died tragically in the 1920s/1930s in Ireland. The inquests were held either on the same day as the death or the following day. In whose interests were the inquests held so quickly?

As far as I am aware, the inquest was necessary to confirm the cause of death, and the body couldn't be buried without ascertaining the cause.... doesn't seem to be the case nowadays.

pedroeibar1

Laws have changed since then. The cause of death must be known or there needs to be a postmortem. On death certs we see the cause of death 'certified x months' which indicates that there is medical evidence that deceased has been treated for that complaint.

tabbey

I came across a news report about 1900, in which a death occurred in the morning. It was near midday by the time the inquest was held. The coroner apologised to the witnesses for delaying them.

This is probably why they were held immediately, as the witnesses might go their separate ways and be difficult to assemble again later.
Witnesses might be sailors and due to sail, or country people who need to get home, and unable to afford hotels.